I can see where the break is coming but I am not ready yet. Nice post though and thanks

Loreena:  It's a great idea.  Much better to take a break, than to push things beyond one's logical tolerance, and then have an Active Rain meltdown.  Have fun catching up... take care... and even take some time to go shopping at Stonebriar.  :)

I hear you on that one Loreena. I may have to do just that myself. Good luck and look forward to your post when you come back!

Yup, everyone can use a break every now and then, I have taken breaks a few times.

Take care!

RJH

I took a break recently without even realizing it.  If you simply stay away from AR, other things will creep in to fill up your time.

Yes it is important to pay attention to such important details!

Oh my!  My addiction is serious enough that the thought of a break gives me a rash! 

Loreena, don't feel guilty about breaks. We all need them and we come back recharged. Sounds like all the "other" work is piling up outside this addiction. AR will be there for you when you are ready to come back.

Loreena, I know how you feel!! Lately I have been feeling the need to take a break from work. My market is beating me up and I'm starting to get waaaay too frustrated. ActiveRain for me is very relaxing and is one of the things that keeps me sane so I'm not sure I need a break from this place. But I can certainly understand if you do. Get caught up, relax and come back when you're ready. Too much of anything is not good for us.

I agree!  It's good to take a break from things once in a while.  And then you can come back more relaxed and refreshed!

Have a great break Loreena!  Enjoy yourself, and relax a little.  Sounds like you've earned it.

Loreena- I know how you feel, I have so much stuff to catch up on...and it just never seems to get all caught up!

I hope you have a productive break and we will miss you and your little one!  Since I am on maternity leave I have kind of taken a break from mortgages and my blogs have been more focused on family lately but I will be more than ready in 3 weeks to jump right back in!

This post shows that you have the right values and are focused on the right things. Enjoy the time away, and we'll be here when you get back!

Loreena, I hate to hear that your blocked! Maybe just take a break from all that paperwork to write to your Diary once in a while. We're so glad you joined us! Keep smiling! That helps the whole world get better.

Later in the rain~Deb

Loreena, I agree.  I have taken some time off and am just getting back into the swing.  Thanks for the post.

It is important to keep everything in balance, including Active Rain.  It is somewhat time consuming to contribute once a week (or more).  Enjoy the time away - Active Rain will be right here when you return.

Hi Loreena! I just recently joined AR and I am already addicted, but I can easily see how you can become burnt out with blogging :-) Who knows... maybe I will be saying that same thing you just said before I know it!

Loreena,

We are only human! Sabbaticals and keeping the balance are critical to one's success.  We need to be 100% for our clients and getting some R&R is part of the recipe for success.

Loreena, this is a very addictive network. 

spoken like a true addict ;)

Loreena-mine is coming!  Enjoy your little vaca from the rain...c u soon! :)

Amen Sistah...

Sometimes I wonder why I devote so much time to this thing.  Its nutty!  Some people claim that the blog ultimately generates leads, but I really doubt that's the motivation.

I don't know what it is, but it's not leads. 

Loreena ~ I take a break from AR about once a month. I'm on doing blogs about two weeks then I break.  You come back refreshed and full of new blog ideas.  We will be waiting your return!

Well, it looks like you will be very missed.  I know I have enjoyed reading your blogs.  I have tried to spend a lot of time this summer to write blogs myself.  During the summer it is a little easier because the kids do not have homework or projects to do.  Enjoy your AR break and hopefully we will hear from you again soon.

JC

Enjoy your break Loreena - although working and being at home with a small one is anything but a break! We should meet for coffee!

Loreena, Congratulations on your well deserved featured post. You are not taking a break, you are doing what's important to you now. And it will give you some free time to make your life even better. I have a feeling you will come back with a post about....Your Needed Sabbatical Break From Active Rain.

Looking forward to a renewed and recharged you.

As a newbie to Active Rain - just a few days in - I can already relate to this thread!

Yikes it's 9:35 pm!

Hi Loreena...I can get a sabbatical from the Rain but I'm finding it harder to take one from "life."

That's what I need right now.  I just want time to take some long naps down on the dock.  I guess it is up to me to do it.

Perhaps this weekend.

Kate

Thank you, thank you and thank you. This becomes a compulsion after a while!

Michael Carter, Realtor Greenville, SC www.beachboyrealestate.com

Enjoy your break and when you come back we'll all be here :)

I took a break awhile back and felt good about it.  I'm going to have to take another one soon to catch up on paperwork, quarterly taxes and just some plain fun!

Good evening Loreena,

I think this is a wise move.  The internet can become addictive and Active Rain is more addictive than most places, in my opinion, because of the huge variety of ideas and opinions and personalities here.  I believe balance is very important in our lives.  There's nothing wrong with Active Rain, but too much Active Rain can impact other parts of our life.  I recently read a post, on a science blog, where the gentleman retired from daily blogging to spend more time with his family.  There's only 24 hours in each day, so each of us must make choices about where we will invest our time.  I wish you all the best and hope to see you again when it's right for you.

Loreena, Been think this myself lately but am afraid I would spend just as much time calling friends i would miss. Anyway the Lord will let me know when it's time

I can understand. in this business we need to be self motivated and its so easy to do the things we want and not the things we need. Great post!

It's all a matter of touches of OCD. But I've actually, been offically diagnosed with slight OCD. I don't have the total obsession and need to do the repetitve things that are normally associated with OCD, but I definitely display it in my AR obsession =P  But you're right. We all need breaks from certain aspects of our lives from time to time.

Loreena,

You are so right. Everyone needs a break from something that they are doing daily, like AR. I'm already pacing myself here, but might need a full-blown sabbatical soon. Good idea.

It's the time thing. There are only so many hours and many of us give up sleep to blog but that is not great for health. So don't feel badly about taking a break. Do what you need to do.

I took all of May off!

HI LOREENA!

I've tried to take a break from AR.  So far, I'm down to one day.  Enjoy your time.

All the best,

Loreena,

Thanks for the post. I am one who took a sabbatical to open an office in April. I have just found the time to come back and be more consistent in my participation, as I continued to manage, recruit, hire and train my new staff. The leave of absence has given me a sense of a renewed affinity.

Loreena - now you've got all these new comments on a featured post to deal with!  A break is a good idea, plus you have so much groundwork now that a break won't hurt at all!

Warning.  Once you stop it's going to be hard to get back.  It happened to me.  Before you know it a year will have gone by.  I would block in some time,  maybe every other day for ActiveRain.  Then again, the time you spend on other items might be far more profitable for you business.

Completely understandable. I just couldn't keep up in equal measure with 2 blogs. Hopefully you will come back and your readers will find your blog as or more interesting then before.

Loreena, I know what you mean, sometimes work just starts piling up and we have to focus on that rather than AR.  I find now that I sometimes wait to go on to AR until later in the day when my work is in order rather than first thing in the morning when I tended to stay way to long and then be running behind the rest of the day.  Have a good break and we'll read you upon your return!

But isn't this more fun than that old paperwork????????

Loreena,  Catching up on paperwork and the other tasks you listed is not a break.  I hope that you're able to take a real break once you get done with all those tasks that you have lined up.  Wishing you a true sabbatical.  Mike

Hi Loreena - It sure is tough to break an addiction with Active Rain. Best of luck in catching up :)

I agree about taking a break from here!  I have gone MIA a few times since I started and then jumped back in.  You must keep up with life so you have time to blog.

I found myself not stopping in here as much over the past few weeks simply because it started working!  (Remember, the point is to generate business, right?  Well, when that happens, you don't always have time to blog so much.)  Plus, I found a couple of other forums where I needed to establish a presence that are also bringing in work. 

Doesn't mean I don't miss it, but there really are only so many hours in a day. 

Yep--I'm with you! I get on a roll, posting and replying for days straight, then must catch up on other work. This is so addicting!

LOREENA - Like anything in life, sometimes we just need to recharge and refocus.  I've taken a few breaks from AR and come back with a new perspective and new ideas.  Enjoy your break.

Hello Loreena, I believe it is important to take time for yourself. You are not supposed to bring work home and home to work, and if you feel that "The Rain" is flooding your life, by all means take a break. I think it's healthy. We'll be here waiting for you to come back!

I can see where a break will be important for me too.  Other matters need attention and there just isn't enough time in a day anymore.

Yes, I took one of those. Then these other local agents started creeping up in local status. Now I'm trying to keep my number 2 spot. But it was a nice break all the same.

Your right, I think I'm there,,,,,where has  all the interesting real estate  related content gone!

Loreena, wow, the 3rd post I have read this morning on people taking a break. Actually, when I come here it is relaxing. I have never been one to post 10 per week, so I guess that is why I am not tired. Also very excited about the new outside AR blogs and localism.

A break sounds good as my desk and all surface tops in my office are covered.  Sounds like a Sunday afternoon project tomorrow.

Loreena congratulations, you have been Featured in Diary of a Realtor Group.

I've left for a couple of weeks at a time before, not because I wanted to per se, but because I didn't have the energy to be here after some long days of constant working.  Good luck with what you're working on.  If you and Boomer need a play date, give Alyssa and me a call!

Loreena, you must be speaking directly to me.  I have been spending so much time on here that I wrote a post about how I feel like I'm having an affair.  I'll walk away and then 10 minutes later find myself sitting back in front of the computer on AR once more.  It is so addictive... there needs to be acure.

Hey Loreena, now that you are on sabatical, I am sure you will not read this comment!  Anyway, I took a month off and I was glad to read one of your articles.  Now I subscribe and you are taking time off!  Oh well, catch you later!

I have been receiving these emails that get sent to my inbox. Too many times, I was tempted to come back and comment... Well, I'm officially back. 1 week is all I can stand being away.